The worlds of science and technology are re-shaping just about everything we do – even our toys and how we play. Enter the concept of STEM toys. Short for “science, technology, engineering and match”, STEM toys are all about teaching specific concepts to a child from a young age. Whether coding or for teaching the basic principles of botany, STEM toys are wonderful for teaching kids how to be creative problem solvers with an acumen for applying science and technology to everyday skills and challenges.
While the benefits of introducing a budding young mind to STEM toys early on are probably too many to mention here, we’ve tried to put together a list of those we deem especially significant.
They Expose Us To A “New Way”
A good example for illustrating the actual use of a toy being play-orientated vs. learning orientated is the humble Lego building block.
Previously, Lego used to be all about creating as many different shapes and structures out of a tub or box of bricks. And while that certainly did something for the child’s natural curiosity and desire to create, something was still lacking.
Today, it’s a very different scenario. Consider, for example, Lego’s Creator series. Instead of sticking to basic structures only, kids now get to discover a world of interesting “real life” concepts. They learn about the concept of building something to scale, how structures that form part of a real building in a real city are linked together, and even basic architectural and design skills.
They Make Science Accessible
One of our favourite things about STEM toys is that they debunk the idea that science, technology, engineering, and even coding and robotics, are fields of study meant for a select few only. Long has there been a negative misconception that these subjects were somehow “beyond” the intellectual capacity of some people.
STEM toys help kids understand that the worlds of science and technology are much more accessible than they may seem at first. A huge part of the learning process is confidence, and STEM toys are helping aspiring young minds to discover that learning is something attainable by everybody. This gives parents more time to enjoy the things they love too, like playing lucky creek casino no deposit bonus codes.
STEM Toys Build Cognitive Skills
STEM toys teach children that the learning process is about more than relying on memory for remembering facts.
The opposite of this is the ability to think critically. Children no longer memorise different solutions for solving a scenario, but are now taught how to assess a problem and come up with a solution by viewing that problem as a learning curve.
They Make Learning Fun
When we learn by playing, we automatically cultivate a love for the learning process.
By engaging with STEM toys – and enjoying the experience – children begin to associate subjects previously viewed as “hard work” with a sense of discovery and fun. This makes them much more likely to associate subjects like science and math with freedom and greater ability later on in life.
STEM toys do what parents and teachers have been trying to for decades: they make learning new things fun.